At Southern Cross Veterinary Clinic we encourage you to have your dog or cat spayed or castrated. Research has shown that pets that are spayed or castrated live longer. Spaying or castrating also reduces the risk of certain types of cancer and other health problems. Spaying a bitch just before the first heat reduces the incidence of mammary (breast) cancer to almost 0%. Castration helps to reduce aggression, tendency to roam, and reduces the risk of prostate problems in dogs. Castration reduces the incidence of fighting among tom cats and so reduces the risk of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and abscesses.

Spaying involves removing some or all of the uterus (womb) and both ovaries. Castration involves removing both testicles.

At Southern Cross Veterinary Clinic we tend to spay cats at about six months of age. Bitches are spayed from six months of age depending on the breed and size of dog and ideally just before their first heat. We offer free heat checks for bitches from six months of age. The age for castration of dogs depends on how 'naughty' he is. We like to wait until full muscle development has occurred (up to eighteen months), but if he starts to lift his leg in the house or becomes aggressive then we might need to castrate earlier. We castrate tom cats at seven to eleven months of age, but again earlier if he starts to roam. If you have any questions or wish to make a sterilisation booking please contact us.